Showing posts with label science fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label science fiction. Show all posts

Wednesday, 22 February 2017

How I Got my Agent: Dee Garretson PLUS #GIVEAWAY!!


STATION FOSAAN
Dee Garretson
February 14, 2017
Month9Books
Paperback, eBook


Scientists and their families stationed on the remote planet of Fosaan were promised a tropical vacation-like experience. But Fosaan, devastated from an apocalyptic event nearly three-hundred years ago, is full of lethal predators and dangerous terrain.

Earthers are forbidden to go beyond the safety zone of their settlement and must not engage the remaining reclusive Fosaanians, native to the planet. Sixteen-year-old Quinn Neen is about to do both of those things.

During an unsanctioned exploration of the planet, Quinn discovers a beautiful Fosaanian girl named Mira stealing food from his family’s living unit. But before he can convince her to show him around, scientists are taken captive, leaving Quinn and the other young Earthers at the mercy of space raiders.

Quinn must go from renegade to leader and convince Mira to become an ally in a fight against an enemy whose very existence threatens their lives and the future of Earthers stuck on Fosaan and at home.

STATION FOSAAN is THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND meets STAR TREK: THE WRATH OF KHAN.

How I got my publishing deal...

Hi Melanie,
Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog.

The agent question is always a hard one for me to answer because as in all things publishing, it’s complicated!

I got my first agent in a very traditional way, a cold query after many years of writing and querying, and with a manuscript that was not my first book. I’m a slow learner. It took me a long time to learn to write well enough to have something good enough to put out there. That agent sold my first two books. I wanted to write a science fiction story next, the one that eventually became STATION FOSAAN. The agent wasn’t interested in representing science fiction at the time, and because of that and some additional factors, we decided it was best to ‘part ways’ in publishing speak.  I went ahead and wrote an early version of the story as a middle grade.


I signed with my next agent because another writer who was repped by her recommended me. She submitted the middle grade version of STATION FOSAAN to a few places, but the editors’ comments were that it was bordering on YA, and some aspects were too violent for middle grade. Before I could rewrite it, the agent left the business. I did rewrite it as YA and ended up submitting it myself to Month9 before I found my current agent. To find her, I cold queried with another middle grade manuscript which is now under submission. So I guess if there is a moral of my story it is to be flexible, and as many people say, remember publishing is a marathon, not a sprint! STATION FOSAAN is being published seven years after I started the first chapter.




Dee Garretson writes for many different age groups, from chapter books to middle grade to young adult to adult fiction. She lives in Ohio with her family, and in true writer fashion, has cat companions who oversee her daily word count. When she’s not writing, she loves to travel, watch old movies, and attempt various kinds of drawing, painting and other artistic pursuits.






Giveaway Details:
(1) winner will receive a Perfectly Posh, Posh To Meet You Set ($20 value), US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Tour Schedule:
Week One:
2/13/2017- S.E. Muir- Excerpt
2/13/2017- Book Review Becca- Spotlight

2/14/2017- Bibliobibuli YA- Interview

2/15/2017- LILbooKlovers- Interview

2/16/2017- Lisa's Loves(Books of Course)- Guest Post
2/16/2017- Omg Books and More Books- Review

2/17/2017- So Few Books- Interview
2/17/2017- Month9Books- Excerpt

Week Two:
2/20/2017- Two Chicks on Books- Interview
2/20/2017- Don't Judge, Read- Review

2/21/2017- Susan Heim on Writing- Excerpt
2/21/2017- Book-Keeping- Review

2/22/2017- Wishful Endings- Interview
2/22/2017-Hidden Worlds Books- Guest Post

2/23/2017- Always & Forever Fangirling- Excerpt
2/23/2017- the Blacksheep Reader- Review

2/24/2017- I am not a bookworm!- Review


Monday, 2 May 2016

Guest Post: Simon Rose, Author of Science Fiction and Fantasy novels for Children and Young Adults

My guest today is Simon Rose, author of science fiction and fantasy novels for children and young adults.

Tell us about your latest novel.



Future Imperfect is an exciting technology-driven adventure featuring teenage geniuses, corporate espionage, and mysterious messages. In the novel, we’re introduced to Andrew Mitchell, who was one of the leading experts in highly advanced technology in Silicon Valley, until he vanished following a car accident, which also injured his son, Alex. When a mysterious app later appears on Alex’s phone, he and his friend Stephanie embark on a terrifying journey involving secret technology, corporate espionage, kidnapping, and murder in a desperate bid to save the future from the sinister Veronica Castlewood.


The story will appeal to all young readers for whom technology plays such a large role in their lives, whether it’s cell phones, laptops, tablets, gaming, or the online world, but it’s also a very compelling adventure story, with lots of cliffhangers, twists, and turns. 

Tell us about your other novels for young adults.


Future imperfect is my tenth novel for young adults. The other novels include The Alchemist's Portrait, The Sorcerer's Letterbox, The Clone Conspiracy, The Emerald Curse, The Heretic's Tomb, The Doomsday Mask, The Time Camera, The Sphere of Septimus, and Flashback. I’ve also written more than 80 nonfiction books for children and young adults, but have also written books for adults. These include The Children's Writer's Guide, The Working Writer's Guide, The Social Media Writer's Guide, School and Library Visits for Authors and Illustrators, and Exploring the Fantasy Realm. 

What’s your current writing project?


My previous novel, Flashback, is a paranormal adventure involving psychic phenomena, ghosts, imaginary friends, mind control experiments, secrets, conspiracies, and time travel with a difference. Flashback has two sequels coming out in 2017, one in the spring and the third installment in the summer. These are already completed but there will be revisions and editing along the way later this year. I’m developing plans for some sequels to The Sphere of Septimus and Future imperfect may generate more adventures too. I’m also working on a parallel universe trilogy, which I hope to have completed later this year. 

What kind of marketing and promotion do you do?


I’m in all the usual places online and on social media but I’m also active in the local writing community and conduct book signings at local bookstores on a regular basis. Last week I was at the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo and next week I’ll be connecting with readers at schools and libraries in Montreal and Quebec City during Children's Book Week. In August I’ll also be appearing at When Words Collide in Calgary.

What other work do you do?


I work as an instructor for adults at Mount Royal University and the University of Calgary. These classes and courses focus on writing for children and young adults or preparing your work for publication. I also offer coaching and editing services for writers in all genres and conduct online writing courses, such as Writing for Children and Young Adults and Writing Historical Fiction. I write screenplays, articles for magazines, and offer copywriting services for websites, blogs, social media, and businesses. 

Do you have any advice for new authors?


Writing is in some ways the easy part. It can be a very long process not only to write a book, but also to get it published. Most authors go through many revisions before their work reaches its final format. Remember too that your book will never be to everyone’s taste, so don’t be discouraged. A firm belief in your own success is often what’s necessary. After all, if you don’t believe in your book, how can you expect other people to?

Read as much as you can and write as often as you can. Keep an ideas file, even if it’s only a name, title, sentence or an entire outline for a novel. You never know when you might get another piece of the puzzle, perhaps years later. You also mustn’t forget the marketing. You may produce the greatest book ever written. However, no one else is going to see it if your book doesn’t become known to potential readers. Be visible as an author. Do as many readings, signings and personal appearances as you can. Get your name out there and hopefully the rest will follow. Especially for newly published authors, books don’t sell themselves and need a lot of help. 

Where can people learn more about you and your work?


You can visit my website at www.simon-rose.com or subscribe to my newsletter, which goes out once a month and has details of my current projects and upcoming events.

Social Media links